Who does Jesus think he is?

Every day we’re asking four questions about part of the Bible. Today Bern Leckie answers:

What did I like about today's passage?

There is a way of thinking about Jesus which looks like believing in him but is actually just thinking he is a good human being, a great teacher and an inspirational leader. These are all nice things, but what amazes me about this passage is that John does not leave us the option of believing in Jesus while only thinking that. Jesus claims to be much more.

Firstly, Jesus claims that his teaching is not his own clever invention but comes from God, who sent him. That’s quite a claim to authority! Teachers in Jesus’ time were used to looking at scripture from slightly different angles, coming up with different interpretations and bringing these together to get a multi-dimensional view of God. Arguing about who had authority was as common then as now, and for everyone to accept a single human authority was ideal but almost unthinkable in practice. Why should this be Jesus? Who is he, anyway?

Jesus expands on this to say directly that his authority comes from God. Anyone could say that, but I love how Jesus then offers things only God could supply, like the “living water” of his Holy Spirit. Incredible words, if true. How can Jesus offer this? Who does he think he is?

Jesus goes even further when he says, “I am the light of the world.” These words are going beyond humanity and touching divinity. He isn’t just teaching God’s teaching or working under God’s authority. Jesus claims to be closely related to God, and calls him Father. He also states clearly, “I am not of this world.” Can Jesus really be more than human?

I love how Jesus develops his claims about himself in the face of rising incredulity and opposition. This isn’t an argument about an issue he’s teaching about on which he can be proved wrong if his ideas aren’t seen as helpful or reasonable. Jesus is making claims about his identity and sounding very unreasonable, literally incredible, for anyone who doesn’t believe in him. Chapter 8 ends with the utterly mind-blowing “before Abraham was born, I am!” This is not something a human can claim. It sounds like Jesus says he is God. Is he?

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

God wants to grab our attention here. In case we were expecting his promised saviour Messiah to be merely a strong, capable, clever, inspirational person, God reveals his plan to be much better than that. His intervention in the world through Jesus is a more direct one. He hasn’t just asked someone to do his work, he has poured himself into humanity.

By embodying God’s nature in human form, Jesus gives us a way to see, know and start to understand God. By being human, Jesus also shows that life without sin is possible. Then by believing and following Jesus, we can connect with God and live this life for ourselves.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

I believe Jesus is who he claims to be, but sometimes I live as if his teaching is only a wise serving suggestion rather than the substance of life itself. I want to grow in my belief that Jesus delivers all he claims, and in my faithfulness to doing everything he says.

Who am I going to share this with?

My family and others I follow Jesus with.